Builder Stories

Danielle Russell has spent over a decade helping builders and remodelers grow through more strategic marketing. She’s seen how new technologies, and changing homeowner behavior, are transforming what it takes to stand out online.

In this conversation, Danielle covers a range of topics that, taken together, form a blueprint for building a stronger marketing foundation. Broader themes include the seismic shifts happen...

Michael James lost everything during the recession, then rebuilt his company with a new outlook on leadership and legacy. He even biked from Canada to Mexico, a journey that reshaped how he approaches business and life.

In this conversation, Michael shares how shifting from a “me” mindset to a “we” mindset transformed his company. He talks about hiring lessons, working with family, and the culture-building practices...

In this engaging conversation, Bob Perez shares how he left an 11-year corporate career to co-found Stephen Thomas Construction in Austin, Texas. Pairing his business background with his partner’s field expertise, Bob has built a thriving company.

From navigating the risk/benefit of cost-plus projects to putting clients firmly in control of their b...

For more than 17 years, Kyle Hunt has been coaching remodelers to move from stressed and scattered to profitable and confident. Through Remodelers On The Rise, he guides business owners on how to take control of their numbers, implement systems, and build companies that support their lives rather than consume them. In this conversation, Kyle shares how remodelers can stop winging it and start using clear processes i...

Gary Muehling’s journey into construction started with failure but it was that setback that shaped his future success. After an early attempt at running his own roofing and siding business fell apart, Gary went to work for larger companies where he learned how strong processes, compliance, and sales systems create sustainable growth. In 2019, he launched MI Remodelers with a mission to combine roofing expertise with full-service re...

Kaleb Lyles grew up working alongside his father in construction and what began as helping out during school breaks turned into a lifelong calling. Together with his wife Andrea, Kaleb launched Copper Masters Roofing with a vision to honor his family’s legacy while carving out his own path in the roofing industry.

Here Kaleb shares how early financial struggles forced them to build a stronger foundation for growth. He explains the ...

Kali Sudbrook took an untraditional road to remodeling. After more than a decade directing university fitness programs, she made the leap into remodeling and quickly uncovered the untapped niche of custom gym design build. Today she is shaping a growing industry that spans from high end garage gyms to the increasing demand for backyard fitness sheds. Kali shares what makes gym design different from other remodeling pro...

In this episode of Builder Stories, Eric sits down for an inspiring (and blunt) conversation with Tom Reber of The Contractor Fight. A passionate advocate for the trades, Reber was host of the HGTV series Unfinished Business and today has a massive audience for his influential videos, podcast, and Facebook group. Here, Reber brings his well-known candor to the discussion with insights on why “most sales people suck”...

In 2010, Devon Vought launched Vought Construction in Berkeley, California, starting with small handyman projects and evolving into a sought-after builder of custom luxury homes. In this episode, Devon shares how he grew his business from working solo with a motorcycle (tools in backpack) to leading a polished, brand-driven team. He discusses the marketing moves that elevated his company, how he represents his brand...

After earning a degree in architectural engineering, Blair Roedel became a senior estimator for a mechanical engineering firm, and eventually found her way to remodeling. In this episode, she explains how she launched BEC Innovations during the early days of the pandemic and grew it into a values-driven renovation company in the Nashville area. She shares how she defined her company standards from the beginning, bui...

Marcus Sheridan built a thriving swimming pool company in the middle of the Great Recession by understanding buyer’s questions and using his marketing to address them with complete transparency. That strategy became the foundation of They Ask, You Answer, a framework now used by leading businesses around the world. In this episode, Sheridan shares how teaching homeowners builds credibility. He reveals why most marke...

Babak Nikraftar started in construction in 2001 after attending school in Vancouver. His first role was redoing faulty building envelopes on condos in the Pacific Northwest. He then returned to school to study construction management and later joined a local high-rise developer.

Today, Nikraftar runs two companies: Forte Projects which focuses on new construction and CondoWorks for condo remodels and...

What does it take to evolve from a one-man remodel crew to a high-end design-build brand built for scale? Tyler Madden launched Laurelless with a mission to raise the bar in remodeling, guided by a relentless pursuit of excellence that’s reflected in the name itself (Laurelless means no resting on laurels). Nearly a decade later, he has built a company defined by unwavering standards for both the clients they serve ...

What does it take to grow a construction business from a dream into a sought-after brand known for craftsmanship and care? Tyler Winship found out firsthand when he launched Englewood Custom Carpentry the same day he was fired from another company. Now, nearly a decade later, Winship is running a thriving business with a reputation that stretches across Florida’s Gulf Coast.

In this episode, he shares the systems he...

What do the most successful remodelers do differently? How do smaller companies break through growth ceilings and become industry leaders? Mark Richardson has spent his career helping contractors make that leap. As the former President of Case Design Remodeling, an author, and a trusted advisor to the industry’s top companies, he shares what it really takes to grow. Richardson breaks down the specific habits, metric...

Working with your spouse isn’t always easy, but it can be one of your biggest strengths. Here, Dees Britt shares how she and her husband built Redeemed Decks and Outdoor Solutions in Madison, Mississippi, while raising three kids and learning to set boundaries between work and home.

Britt also shares the systems and strategies that helped their business grow faster than expected. From refining the sales process to h...

You don’t need a lifelong construction background to build a profitable remodeling business. In this episode of Builder Stories, Dominick Thompson shares how he went from the automotive industry and military service to learning construction and starting Watershed Builders in Charlotte.

Dominick breaks down how he built strong processes and stability into his business from the very beginning. He priced jobs with conf...

Meet Wilbur Jennings, owner of Wilbur Design + Construct in Marquette, Michigan. Jennings started in the trades at the age of 13, and developed a passion for building. He went on to earn a degree in construction management, and founded Wilbur Design while “flying by the seat of my pants.” Over the course of his journey in leadership he incorporated a mission and vision; clear systems and processes; an intentional compa...

Meet Mike Claudio, owner of WinRate Consulting in Charlotte, NC. After walking away from corporate burnout, Mike built a business helping contractors scale with clarity, leadership, and systems that work. In this episode, he breaks down the three biggest reasons construction companies lose momentum, how to build core values that actually guide your team, and the biggest mistake leaders make when casting a vision. Pl...